Liquid clutch and transmission



C. B. FUNK.

LIQUID CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION.

APPLICATION FiLED SEPT. I l, 191]- 1,41 1,4 5, Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

M IIIIIIIH' C. B. FUNK.

LIQUID CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION.

APPLICATION FiLED SEPT. 1 l, 1911.

EI K

C. B. FUNK.

LIQUID CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION.

APPLICATION FiLED SEPT: 1 1, 191?.

1,41 1,4 5, Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

EWI'E LII \VEE H AEL YLE 5. fi/N/r- J K???- \zjv mm.

C. B. FUNK.

LIQUID CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION.

APPLICATION FiLED SEPT, f1, 1917.

1,41 1,485., Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. EE 1 1.9 &

CARLYLE B. FUNK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LIQUID CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. d, 1922..

Application filed September 11, 191?. Serial No. 190,729.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARLYLE B. FUNK, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of the city of Chicago. in the county of (00k and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Liquid (hitch and Transmission; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full. clear, and exact description of the same. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the numerals of reference marked thereon. which form a part of this specification.

t is an object of this invention to provide a fluid clutch by means of which the drive shaft is connected to drive the driven shaft or to permit free rotation of the drive shaft without actuating the driven-shaft and in which a variable speed transmission is provided by control of the liquid in the device.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a liquid clutch and power transmission wherein the non-compressiliility of a liquid is utilized as the medium in driving the driven member or shaft from the drive shaft to provide a noiseless clutch and transmission, and one in which the combined effects of an entirely mechanical clutch and a mechanical transmission may be obtained by simply manipulating a valve which in turn controls the action or movement of the body of fluid.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a transmission of the class described for transmitting a drive between a driving and driven member wherein any one of a practically infinite number of speeds may be obtained by manipulation of means controlling the flow of the fluid.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a liquid clutch and transmission in which a single rotor element provided and in which-the variations in speed are efiected by controlling the flow of the li aid from one side of the rotor to the other side.

lit is further an object of this invention to provide an automatically compensating packing mechanism which is so disposed that its of contact with the cylinder wall may constantiy v ry to provide a contact for fa l w'i -n of the packing to thereby provid un'iforr y tight ioint'bethe vanes and cylinder wall at all.

driven member and in which a valve controlled passage is provided by opening or closing of which the transmission of the power is controlled.

it is further an object of this invention to provide a simplified device in which a minimum number of parts are employed which is cheap to manufacture and which, in operation. is very efiicientand durable.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

(in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention.

Figure? is a view at right angles with Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical central section taken through the clutch and transmission.

Figure 4- is an enlarged vertical section taken through the same at-right angles to Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the abutments or slides in a different position and the operation of the rocking packing mechanism.

Figure 6 is a central section of the cylinder.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the cylinder head.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the rotor.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail of the head for one side thereof.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail of the controlling valve.

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail of the rocking packing plate and packing.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail of the pivot block in the cylinder wall.

Figure 13 is a central vertical section of a modified form of device.

Figure 14 is view looking into the cyl' inder with the head plate and rotor removed.

Figure 15 is a view looking into the cylinder shown in Figure 6.

Figure 16 is a side view of the rotor shown in Figure 8.

As shown on the drawings:

1. indicates casing or cylinder provided with an integral head 2, and a detachable head 3. p mg strip or gaslvt 4:. is provided for .mg a fluid tight 5,0111% bined clutch and transmission.

By use of the pivoted or rocker pecking mechanism, the angle of the sacking may constant and automatically change so compensate she variation in the angle 3:1) Hit lbs vanes or sbniinenis assume, owing so the eccentric mounting, and sttlic same time the full widixb of the packing beers zigains the cylinder well in all positions. The springs 30-431, constanily exert a pressure on tbs rocker piste to yieldingly hold the psclc inn" sigsinsi il'ie cylinder ivsll.

The cbsn'uber in the rotor may be fillec. wiizb grease or oil, and owing to the im-ed yol-m and sleeve the parts 2%? lubricating.

Many changes may be made and details oi construction may be varied through a Wide range without deperiing from ilie principles of my invei'ilion. .l lzberei'orc do not desire to limii, the patent otherwise than necer'si- Uiifikl by ills prior art.

I claim my invention:

1. ln s fluid clutch, a cylinder, on eccentricslly'posiiioned rotor member tberein, inreg-rally connected sbulnients or vanes slidnble in ibe ro hor, an eccentric disposed in an opening between said sbn'imcnts and rots table with lbs cylinder for operaiing the sbwtinenls, s driven shaft connecicd to the rotor member, a drive sheila connecled to the cylinder, 21ml control means for said rotor member.

2. in ii device of the class described, :1 cylinder, a rotor eccentrically mounted in the bore of the cylinder contacting the cylinder wall at one point, abutments rotatable with the rotor, a yoke integrally connecting said abutments, means in said yokc for sliding the abutments to Contact the walls of the cylinder at all times, a passageiiflording communication between the cylinder on opposits sides of the point of Contact between the rotor and cylinder Well, and a valve in said passage below said point of wnisci.

3. In a device of the class described, "0-

ist'ablc cylinder, a slotted rotor il'lfilblll, 22,,

com rotatable with the cylinder, a sleeve iatable on the cam having opposite sides squared, a yoke on tbe squared sides of the sleeve, abutments integral with the yoke slidablc in the slots in the rotor, and means for controlling the operation of the rotor.

l. lln a device of the class described, s rotestable cylinder, a slotted rotor therein, a cam rotatable Wiinl'l the cylinder, a sleeve r0 terrible on lie rain having; opposite sides squared, e. volre on lbs squared sides of the ,"B, abnnnenis iniegrsl wish the yoke slots in bile rotor, oscillating members mounted in lbs ends of ii znients contacting the cylinder Wall ,1 times, and means governing -l-he operoi said rotor, in device of she class described, a c linder, can: rigidly connecied therewith, for provided Wiili oppositely disposed iniegr lly connee icd oppositely disposed sbuinients or vanes extending through iiie slots in the rotor, means surrounding and rotatable by the cam for sliding the abutnienis relatively o"? "the rotor, and a valve controlled passage commnnicaiing with the .inder on opposite sides of the rotor.

in s device or class described, :i sing provided with a, cylindrical bore herein, a rotor journailed eccentrically in e bore in tbe casing contacting one Wall rec-f forming a crescent shaped chamber ted io be opereied by said cam to recip rocstc in said rotor, ssidlsbniments having recesses in line ends sliereoi, and rocking psclzing members mounted in ifibe recesses in size ends of the sbuitmenis adapted to vary iis angle or" conincs Wi li the Wall of the casas the angle of the sbucnienis varies.

Y, in s fluid cinicb, s bored outer casing, roiior eccenirically journnled in the bore of said casing, a plurality of pumping elements roral'nble with the rolor, a chambered yoke m. L w

der well, rotor.

ln driven rotor, s yoke integrally sleeve slidzible .K enclosing said which said abutments operate. an eccentric in said sleeve rotatable with the casing for operating the abutments, a by-pass affording communication between two parts of the cylinder, a cylindrical plug valve in said bypass for controlling the shifting of fluid from one part of the chamber to the other, and means rotatable with the casing for operating the plug valve.

10. In a device of the class described, a casing having a cylindrical bore therein, a rotor member in the casing, slots in the rotor member, a yoke having vanes slidably mounted in the slots, a cam fixed to the easing, and a sleeve on the cam provided with squared ends for operating the yoke.

11. In a device of the class described, a cylindrically bored casing, a rotor set accentrically therein, contacting one side thereof and forming a crescent-shaped chamber, and a cam-operated single piece vane in the rotor having a yoke-shaped center.

12. In a device of the class described, a cylindrically bored casing, a rotor set eccentrically therein, contacting one side thereof and forming a crescent-shaped chamber, a cam-operated sleeve, and a single piece Vane in the rotor having a yoke-shaped center, said yoke-shaped center being provided with two opposite planed surfaces between which the cam operated sleeve is adapted to slide. 13. In a device of the class described, a

slightly shorter than the inside diameter of the cylinder, and self-adjusting packing strips on the ends of the vane.

15. In a fluid clutch, a cylindrically bored casing, a rotor member set eccentrically therein, a vane slidable in the rotor contacting the cylinder at both ends, the rotor contacting the cylinder at one point, and a spring-actuated block set into a slot in the periphery of the cylinder at said point of contact.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARLYLE B. FUNK.

lVitnesses CHARLES IV. Hnms. Jr.. EARL M. HARDINE. 

